Ice-flake-making machine

ABSTRACT

There is provided an improvement in an icemaking machine of the type wherein there is a cylindrical vertical chamber including a chamber sidewall having a discharge opening at its upper end. Means are provided for supplying water to the lower end of the chamber. Refrigeration means are provided for freezing the water on the inside surface of the chamber wall. A screw conveyor is rotatably mounted within the chamber and includes a helical screw in close proximity to the inside surface of the chamber to scrape off ice therefrom as the conveyor rotates and delivers a column of ice toward the opening. A generally annular breaker member is provided around the upper portion of the screw conveyor in the path of the column of ice moving toward the opening. Means are provided for biasing the breaker member downwardly.

United States Patent 3,342,040 9/1967 Dedricks et ABSTRACT: There is provided an improvement in an icemaking machine of the type wherein there is a cylindrical vertical chamber including a chamber sidewall having a discharge opening at its upper end. Means are provided for supplying water to the lower end of the chamber. Refrigeration means are provided for freezing the water on the inside surface of the chamber wall. A screw conveyor is rotatably mounted within the chamber and includes a helical screw in close proximity to the inside surface of the chamber to scrape off ice therefrom as the conveyor rotates and delivers a column of ice toward the opening. A generally annular breaker member is provided around the upper portion of the screw conveyor in the path of the column of ice moving toward the opening. Means are provided for biasing the breaker member downwardly.

PATENTED JUL20 I971 SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR: ARMIN FIEDLER' PATENTEB JUL20 I92:

SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR: .ARMIN FIEDLER ATT'YS ICE-FLAKE-MAKING MACHINE I This invention relates generally to icemakingand more ,particularly to improvements in machines for making smallpieces or flakes ofice suitable for use in drinks or the like.

It is commercially known in the art to make ice by freezing water on theinside wall of a vertical cylinder and continuously scraping the ice from the inside vertical wall by means of a rotating screw conveyor or auger that has an outside diameter almost equal to the diameter of the cylinder.

The rotating screw conveyor raises the ice in the shape of a hollow cylindrical column that has a helical cut or slot therethrough where the thread of the helix extends. This thread or cut in the vertically moving column of ice facilitates breaking of the column of ice into small pieces. One such icemaking machine is illustrated and described in my US. Pat. No. 3,326,014 granted June 20, 1967. The present invention may be considered as an improvement over the icemaking machine disclosed therein. In all the various designs of flake ice mechanisms that employ a screw to eject the ice, the temperature and density of the ejected ice is dependent upon a number of fixed and variable factors or conditions. Fixed factors include thescrew design (pitch and depth of thread) and screw speed. Variable factors are water aiid air temperatures that affect the refrigerating capacity and the heat load. To compensate for these variable factors, according to the present invention, a spring-loaded of resilient member is used to automatically open the path for an increased flow of ice, keeping a uniform load on the drive and motor. and providing an ice of uniform temperature and density. Setting the tensions of the spring or. resilient member makes it possible toadjust for the type of ice desired.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide an arrangement for facilitating the breaking up of the upward-moving column of ice at the top of the vertical cylinder.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement for controlling the temperature and density of the ice as it is broken off at the top ofa movingcolumn of ice.

Yet a further object of the present inventionis to provide means for adjustably selecting the ice condition of the ice leaving the icemaking machine.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved ice-flake-making machine.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will. be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

In accordance with these and other objects of the present invention, there is provided means for discharging ice particles from the upper end of a vertical ice-flake-making cylinder. the cylinder being formed with a recessed area or cutaway section to which is connected a discharge chute. A generally annular breaker member is positioned around the upper portion of the screw conveyor in the icemaking machine such that it extends into the pathof the column of ice moving toward the opening. In a preferred embodiment the breaker member is biased toward the screw conveyor. According to'yet another feature, the bias of the breaker member may be selectively adjustable to provide for varying the characteristics of the ice produced by the icemaking machine.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a fragmentary sectionalview ,of an icemaking.

machine constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment of an icemaking machine constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional .view of still another em bodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. I;-

there is'fragmentarily illustrated an ice-flake making machine 10 comprising a vertical cylinder or tube' 11 that forms the sidewall of a vertically extending cylindricalfreezing chamber,

12. Surrounding the central portion of the tube are.

evaporator coils 13 which extend over a substantial portion of the length of the tube 11 and are connected to a conventional v The lower end wall 17 is provided with a central opening 20 so with the top 11a of the tube 11.

that the discharge chamber 15 may be positioned again'st a shoulder 21 formed on the outer wall of the tube II. The

cylindrical, sidewall 18 is cut away to form an ice discharge opening 22 opening into an ice discharge chute 23.

Rotatably mounted within the tube 11 and coaxial therewith is a screw conveyor assembly 26 including an upper portion 27,

joumaled in an opening 28 in the upper'end wall 16 of the discharge chamber 15. The screw conveyor 26 also includes a 5 lower portion 29 having a helical screw thread .30 defined thereon. The upper and lower portions 27 and 29 form a' shoulder 31 at their juncture. The screw conveyor 26 may be driven in aconventional manner. v

It will be understood that in use water is maintained at a desirable level just below the top of the evaporator coils 13. The water freezes against the inner surface of the tube l I. The screw conveyor assembly 26 is rotated so that the helical threads 30 thereon scrape the ice from the tube wall and convey it in a column of ice upwardly toward the upper end of the tube 11.

For breakingup the column of ice, there is provided a generally annular breaker member 34 around the upper portion 27 of the screw con'veyor assembly 26' and positioned the path of the column of ice moving toward the discharge opening 23. In the illustrated embodiment the breaker member 34 comprises an annular member normally seated against the shoulder 3l and having an arcuate lower surface 340 directed upwardly and butwardly from the freezing chamber 12. The breaker member 34 may *be biased" downwardly against the seat 31 by a suitable spring 35 and'the! biasing force may be selectively adjusted by an adjusting nut 36 threaded on threads 37.contained on the upper outer surface of the upper portion 27 of the screw conveyor assembly. Thus the characteristics of the ice flake formed by the iceflake-making machine l0 may be varied and controlled by the selective adjustment of the biasing load so as to provide the desired temperature and density of ice flakes.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of an ice-flake-making machine 40 similar to that of FIG.' I, but having a modified breaker member. More specifically the ice-flake-making machine 40 comprises the vertical cylinder or tube 11 forming the sidewall of the vertically extending cylindricalfreezing chamber 12. Surrounding the central portion of the tube 11 are the evaporator coils 13. Connected to the upper end of the tubell is a discharge chamber 15 formed of the end walls 16 and 17 and the cylindrical sidewall 18 held together by the tie members 19. The lower end wall 17 is formed with the central opening 20 fitting in the shoulder 21 of the tube ILMoreovr the cylindrical sidewall 18 is provided with' an ice discharge opening 22 opening into an ice discharge chute 23.

Rotatably mounted within the tube I l and coaxial therewith is an auger or screw conveyorassembly 43 having an upper portion 44 joumaled within' the opening 28 in the upper end wall 16. A lower portion 45 is provided with helical threads 46 to provide for removing the ice which forms on the inner sidewall of the tube 11. The upper and lower portions 44 and 45 dcfine a shoulder 47 at their juncture substantially in line For breaking up the ice, there is provided a breaker member 50 in the form of a resilient disc or washer positioned on the upper portion 44 of the screw conveyor assembly '43 and seated on the shoulder47thereof. Theibreaker member 50 moreover is normally seated against the top 11a of the cylindrical tube 11.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2 there is provided biasing means in the form of the spring 35 interposed between the adjusting nut 36 on the threads 37 of the screw conveyor assembly 43, and the resilient disc 50. A washer 52 may be provided as a bearing surface for the spring 35 against the resilient disc 50.

FIG. 3 illustrates an ice-flake-making machine 55 having yet another automatic form of breaker member. Specifically, as therein illustrated, the icemaking machine 55 comprises the vertical tube 11 forming the sidewall of the vertically extending cylindrical freezing chamber 12. Surrounding the central portion of the tube 11 are the evaporator coils 13. The discharge chamber 15 is secured to the top of the tube 11 and consists of the end walls 16 and 17 and the cylindrical sidewall 18 held together by the tie members 19. The lower end wall 17 is provided with the central opening 21 fitted over a shoulder 22 of the tube 11. The cylindrical sidewall 18 is provided with the ice discharge opening 22 aligned with the ice discharge chute 23.

' Rotatably mounted within the tube 11 and coaxial therewith is a screw conveyor assembly 56 having an upper portion 57 journalcd within the opening 28 in the upper end wall 16. The screw conveyor assembly 56 also includes a lower portion 59 having helical screw threads 60 thereon. The upper and lower portions 57 and 59 form a shoulder 61 at theirjuncture.

In accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 3, there is pro- -vided a breaker member 65 in the form:of a resilient torus or doughnut of generally D-shape cross section with the outermost edge 65a thereof in close proximity to the inside surface of the cylindrical cylinder 11. The torus 65 is biased against the shoulder 61 by the spring 35 positioned between the adjusting nut 36 and the torus 65. A washer 66 may be positioned between the spring 35 and the torus 65 to form a wear surface.

In operation the torus 65 will squeeze together and deflect under the force of the upwardly moving column of ice so that the outermost edge 65a thereof will be squeezed closer or further from the inner sidewall of the tube 11, thereby regulating the, characteristics and condition of the ice .flakes discharged from the device.

FIG. 4 illustrates yet another embodiment of an iccmaking machine 70 having another embodiment of a breaker member. As therein illustrated the icemaking machine 70 includes the vertical cylinder or tube 11 forming the sidewall of the vertically extending cylindrical freezing chamber 12. Surrounding the central portion of the tube 11 are the evaporator coils 13. The upper end of the tube 11 defines the shoulder or seat 11a. Secured to the top of the tube 11 is the discharge chamber 15 formed of the end walls 16 and 17 and the cylindrical sidewall 18 held together by the tie members 19. The lower end wall 17 is provided with the central opening 20 fitted over the shoulder 21 on the outer wall of the tube 11. The cylindrical sidewall 18 is provided with an opening 22 defining an ice discharge and connecting to the ice discharge chute 23.

Rotatably mounted within the tube 11 is ascrew conveyor assembly 73 having an upper portion 74 journalcd within the opening 28 in the upper end wall 16, and a lower portion 75 containing helical screw threads 76. The upper edge of the lower portion 75 and helical threads 76 is tapered upwardly and inwardly, as illustrated at 77, terminating in a shoulder 78 defined between the taper 77 and the upper portion 74 of the screw conveyor assembly 73.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a breaker member 80 of generally inverted cup shape having a bottom wall 81 and a generally cylindrical sidewall 82 and an annular upwardly extending flange 83 is formed integrally with the sidewall 82 intermediate its length and rests upon the upper end 11a of the tube 11. The lower inner surface of the sidewall 82 is generally cone shaped having a downward and outward taper 84 complementary with the taper 77 on the screw conveyor assembly 73. The sidewall 82 is provided with a discharge opening 82a remote from the taper 84 thereof and adjacent to the bottom wall, aligned with the ice discharge opening 22'and ice discharge chute 23 to provide for the discharge of the ice through the breaker member 80.

It has been found that the upwardly moving column of ice will be deflected inwardly to pass through the annular space 85 formed between the tapers 77 and 84, and will pass therebetween to provide the desired characteristics to the ice flakes.

In the illustrated embodiment the breaker member 80 is biased downwardly so as to rest upon the upper end 11 of the lube I I by means of the spring 35 bearing against the upper surface of the breaker member 80 and. the adjusting nut 36 adjustably held on the threads 37 of the screw conveyor assembly Fromthe above-detailed descriptionsof the invention, it will be understood that the upwardly moving column of ice will strike the breaker members which assist in providing ice with a desired temperature and density. Moreover the desired characteristics of ice may be varied by adjusting the position or tensioning of the breaker members. By the use of resilient breaker members, the icemaking machine will readily adjust for various rates and feeds of the column of ice.

Although the present invention has been described by reference to several embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that numerous other modifications and embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art and it is intended by the appended claims to cover all modifications and embodiments which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present inventlon.

What 1 claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an icemaking machine, means forming a vertical cylindrical freezing chamber having a discharge opening .at its upper end defined by the chamber sidewall at the upper end thereof, means forming a water supply inlet to the chamber adjacent the lower end thereof, refrigeration means for freezing the water on the inside surface of said wall, a screw conveyor rotatably mounted within the chamber including an upper portion and a lower portion having a helical thread in v sufficiently close proximity to said inside surface of said chamber 'to scrape off ice therefrom as the conveyor rotates and delivers a column of ice toward said opening, a generally annular breaker member around said upper portion in the path of the column of ice moving toward said opening for closing the same, and biasing means for biasing said member toward a closed position against said upper end of said chamber sidewall whereby said ice is extruded radially outward under resilient pressure exerted thereon between said breaker member and said upper end of said chamber sidewall.

2. An icemaking machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said upper and lower portions form a shoulder at their juncture defining a seat, and said member rests on said seat.

3. An icemaking machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said breaker member has an upwardly and outwardly directed arcuate lower surface.

4. An icemaking machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said breaker member is a resilient disc normally seated against the top of said cylindrical chamber.

5. An icemaking machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said breaker member is a resilient torus having its outermost 

1. In an icemaking machine, means forming a vertical cylindrical freezing chamber having a discharge opening at its upper end defined by the chamber sidewall at the upper end thereof, means forming a water supply inlet to the chamber adjacent the lower end thereof, refrigeration means for freezing the water on the inside surface of said wall, a screw conveyor rotatably mounted within the chamber including aN upper portion and a lower portion having a helical thread in sufficiently close proximity to said inside surface of said chamber to scrape off ice therefrom as the conveyor rotates and delivers a column of ice toward said opening, a generally annular breaker member around said upper portion in the path of the column of ice moving toward said opening for closing the same, and biasing means for biasing said member toward a closed position against said upper end of said chamber sidewall whereby said ice is extruded radially outward under resilient pressure exerted thereon between said breaker member and said upper end of said chamber sidewall.
 2. An icemaking machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said upper and lower portions form a shoulder at their juncture defining a seat, and said member rests on said seat.
 3. An icemaking machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said breaker member has an upwardly and outwardly directed arcuate lower surface.
 4. An icemaking machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said breaker member is a resilient disc normally seated against the top of said cylindrical chamber.
 5. An icemaking machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said breaker member is a resilient torus having its outermost edge in close proximity to the inside surface of said cylindrical chamber.
 6. An icemaking machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said breaker member includes an inverted cup-shaped member having a cone-shaped lower inner surface and a discharge opening in its sidewall remote from said lower inner surface, said lower portion and said helical thread having a complementary taper.
 7. An icemaking machine as set forth in claim 1 including means for selectively adjusting the biasing force exerted by said biasing means. 